Bully Free Freshman Class

Session 4

Today all students will:• Discuss fear and how it relates to

how they treat others, including their willingness to help those bullied.

• Discuss how bitterness impacts our treatment of others, including willingness to help those bullied.

• Discuss how hate is related to our treatment of others, including our willingness to help those bullied.

• Discuss why retaliation is not the answer to bullying.

Lesson 18:Bullying and Fear Have you ever experienced fear?

If so, how would you describe the feeling of fear?

How would define fear?

How does the following definition of fear relate to bullying?

“Fear is a feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger; a feeling of disquiet or apprehension.”

Do you agree with the following statement… Fear is an emotion that no one wants to

admit.

Fear is a normal response to bullying. Bullying creates a fearful school climate that no only affects the student who are bullied but also those who watch it.

If you were fearful because of bullying, would you admit your fear to your peers?

If not, why not?

If you were fearful because of bullying, would you admit your fear to any school personnel?

If not, why not?

What are some effective ways we can deal with our fears?

Talk to someone about them, write about them in a journal, use relaxation techniques and take steps to ensure our safety. Ex: breathe slowly and deeply, shut our

eyes and visualize ourselves being in a peaceful place

What are some ways we can create a less fearful school environment?

Prevent and stop bullying. Report bullying when we see it and report

bullying when we experience it. We should also stand up for those who are

bullied. Speak words of kindness, encouragement and support for the students who are bullied. Be good listeners as they share their fears. Let them know that fear is a normal response to bullying.

Lesson 19: Bullying and Bitterness How would you define bitterness?

“Bitterness can mean cold, harsh or cutting words; cruel; characterized by intense animosity.”

Quotes about Bitterness(handout)

Journal Entry Describe the destructiveness of

bitterness.

Lesson 20: Bullying and Hate When you hear the word hate, what do

you think about? What are some times in the history of

the United States has experienced the destructiveness of hate?

Racial hatred Wars motivated by hate.

The word hate is not entirely bad.

What are some times in the history of the United States where hate had a positive influence or outcome?

Hate for slavery. Hate for certain situations or conditions has

motivated some people to help the homeless, the starving, the poor, the abused, etc.

How does hate relate to our treatment of others and our willingness to help those who are bullied?

Hate is a very strong emotion. When people hear the word hate they often think of things that are negative. We should not hate people, but we should hate some things. We should hate evil and we should hate it when someone is bullied. So, hate should not be removed from our vocabulary.

How would you define hate? “Hate is to feel hostility or animosity

toward someone or something; to feel dislike or distaste.”

How would you describe the feeling of hate?

“Hatred is the madness of the heart.” – Lord Byron

Do you think the following three statements are true? Why or why not?

1. “Never in this world can hatred be stilled by hatred; it will be stilled only by non-hatred.” – Unknown

2. “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through a concern for others.” – Unknown

3. Hate is a wasted emotion. – Missy Jenkins-Smith who is a victim of a school shooting

What does the following Henry Ward Beecher quote teach us about the dangers of inappropriate hate?

“There is no faculty of the human soul so persistent and universal as that of hatred.”

Journal Entry Explain why hate is a destructive and

wasted emotion.

Lesson 21:Retaliation is NOT the Answer What does saying “an eye for an eye” mean? Answer: To do something unpleasant to a

person in return for something unpleasant he has done to you.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.”

What does he mean by that?

What happens when we respond to bullying with violence? Violence is not the answer to violence, but we should let

people know that we are not easy targets and we should be assertive.

What words come to mind when you hear the word “retaliate”.

Revenge

Get eve

nPunish

Strike

back

Hurt someone because they hurt

you!

“To retaliate means to repay, as a wrong or injury, with the like. To do evil in return for evil. To make a strategic offensive assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target.”

Retaliation is not the answer. Research indicates that most of the time retaliation makes the

bullying last longer and makes it worse The bullied student or the student who bullies may get

seriously hurt. Criminal charges may be filed. When students retaliate, they

lose! Violence is not the way you deal with violence. You should

tell an adult. When adults get involved, bullying is stopped or reduced.

“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Journal Entry # 8 Explain how the following path relates to bullying:

-deep hurt, fear, anxiety, overwhelming anxiety, anger, hate, rage and then retaliation